Craters Eminescu, Xiao Zhao and Eastman by VIRS and MDIS

The top image is a MASCS VIRS interpolated color composite of craters Eminescu (center), with Xiao Zhao and Eastman toward the east and in Mercury's mid-latitudes. The bottom image is a monochrome MDIS mosaic of the same area. Yellow areas correspond to high values in both the red and green channels, that is, high reflectance (at 575 nm) and high values of the 415-nm/575-nm reflectance ratio. In some cases these spectral characteristics are associated with fresh material (like the rays of Xiao Zhao) that has been less affected by space weathering. Hollows, such as those found on and around the central peak of Eminescu, have similar colors.

The VIRS composite shows hundreds of individual footprints tracks (minimum 100-200 m across and 3-4 km long) taken from different directions and altitudes. In locations where multiple footprints cover the same area, the footprint with the best illumination for mineralogical interpretation (usually the lowest incidence angle where shadows are minimized) is used for making the map. In areas where footprints are sparse (separated by tens of km), observations are interpolated for complete coverage of the surface. In the MDIS mosaic, some brightness variations are due to tiling of images taken at different illuminations.

Date Created: June 16, 2014
Instruments: Visible and Infrared Spectrograph (VIRS) of the Mercury Atmosphere and Surface Composition Spectrometer (MASCS) and Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
VIRS Color Composite Wavelengths: 575 nm as red, 415 nm/750 nm as green, 310 nm/390 nm as blue
Center Latitude: 10.0°
Center Longitude: 114.3° E
Resolution: 1 km/pixel
Scale: Eminescu crater(center) is about 130 km (80 mi.) in diameter

Image credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

Eminescu Crater

Centered in this stunning image lies Eminescu crater, illuminated by a bright halo of material around its edge. The ends of a ray system emanating from Xiao Zhao are on the right side of the image. Standing in stark contrast with the low reflectance material within the crater (identifiable as the dark regions on the crater's floor) are bright hollows (identifiable as the bright ring near the crater's center).

Today's image title is in reference to the Cat's Eye Nebula, a well studied, iconic nebula that shares similar features to this image of Eminescu, such as notably the blues, yellows, and spherical shape of the formation.

Date acquired: January 03, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 234069356, 234069376, 234069360
Image ID: 1218103, 1218108, 1218104
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filters: 9, 7, 6 (996, 748, 433 nanometers) in red, green, and blue
Center Latitude: 10.47°
Center Longitude: 113.8° E
Resolution: 466 meters/pixel
Scale: Eminescu has a diameter 130 km (81 mi)
Incidence Angle: 26.6°
Emission Angle: 23.5°
Phase Angle: 50.2°

Photo credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

Amaral Crater

Named in 2008 for the Brazilian painter Tarsila do Amaral, Amaral crater was imaged during MESSENGER's first Mercury flyby and discovered to contain bright central peaks that were relatively blue in color compared to the surrounding terrain. The peaks resembled those of Eminescu in color, now known to be the location of an impressive collection of hollows. This spectacular image of Amaral highlights the topography of the peaks inside the crater but doesn't show wide-spread hollows as seen within Eminescu, though there may be a hint that perhaps the bright tips of Amaral's peaks do host hollows.

Date acquired: February 04, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 236873588
Image ID: 1353328
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: -26.44.°
Center Longitude: 118.2.° E
Resolution: 80 meters/pixel
Scale: Amaral has a diameter of 109 kilometers (68 miles)
Orientation: North is to the left
Incidence Angle: 85°
Emission Angle: 56°
Phase Angle: 29°

Photo credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

Eminescu Crater

This image, taken with the Narrow Angle Camera (NAC), shows the crater Eminescu. Named for the nineteenth century Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu, Eminescu displays bright hollows at its center. These shallow, irregular depressions were a surprising find in MESSENGER high-resolution images, and the possible causes of their formation are still being studied.

Date acquired: January 03, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 234069368
Image ID: 1218106
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 4 (558 nanometers)
Center Latitude: 10.29°
Center Longitude: 113.9° E
Resolution: 469 meters/pixel
Scale: Eminescu crater is about 130 km (80 miles) in diameter.
Incidence Angle: 26.5°
Emission Angle: 23.6°
Phase Angle: 50.2°

Photo credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

Hollows at the Peaks in Eminescu Crater

The central peaks of Eminescu are revealed here at high resolution, showing off an impressive collection of hollows. Some of these hollows have coalesced into larger formations. North is down in this image.

Date acquired: December 05, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 231610992
Image ID: 1099314
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 10.9°
Center Longitude: 114.5° E
Resolution: 33 meters/pixel
Scale: This image is approximately 66 km (41 mi.) across
Incidence Angle: 66.2°
Emission Angle: 59.2°
Phase Angle: 125.5°

Photo credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

Inside Eminescu Crater

This oblique view shows a portion of the rim of the crater Eminescu. The angle of this image provides a great perspective for viewing the spectacular cliffs that formed as material slumped from the crater rim into the crater interior, as well as small ponds of impact melt perched on the rim. North is down in this image.

Date acquired: December 05, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 231611014
Image ID: 1099316
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 9.8°
Center Longitude: 115.5° E
Resolution: 34 meters/pixel
Scale: The scene is approximately 35 km (22 miles) from north to south.
Incidence Angle: 65.1°
Emission Angle: 60.1°
Phase Angle: 125.3°

Photo credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington